How to get a good tone on an acoustic guitar
By Ryan Duke
There is a lot that goes into playing an electric guitar and getting the sound you want. The simplicity of acoustic guitars can cause them to be easily overlooked, especially for hard rock and metal players. Have you ever felt out of your comfort zone when you picked up an acoustic to record or perform? Maybe you are considering eliminating an acoustic song because it's just more work. Metal has always had acoustic interwoven into some of the best albums and best songs. It can be the icing on the cake. This article will give a brief overview of what the tone is composed of at its core and give some clarity for making the right choices.
Types of Acoustic Guitars
The guitar itself is the first thing we will look at. There is much to consider in how a guitar is built, but these two are the first things you should know.
- The wood the guitar is made is the first piece of the puzzle. There are a lot of woods and every guitar is different just like every tree is different. Having it in your hands and playing it will give your ears the best information.
- The next, and one of the biggest factors, is the shape. The most common shape is the dreadnought. It has a larger, less curvy body that gives a balanced sound. Like its full bodied look, it gives a full bodied sound. There really are a lot of options in body size and shape. The best way to hear the differences is to play as many as you can one right after the other to see which you prefer. This is most easily done at a guitar store. Thin bodies will produce bass frequencies. Cutaways give you extra room to play on the upper frets, but won't have a huge effect on the tone. Smaller bodied guitars, like classical guitars, will be quieter. This is also because classical guitars have different strings.
Nylon vs. Steel
Classical guitars have nylon strings. This gives a very smooth and warm tone. Just about everything else has steel strings. The choice is yours. Steel is usually used for folk, blues, rock, and pop. It is brighter and louder than nylon. Keeping your strings clean and replacing them often will be the easiest and most noticeable way to help your tone. Many people wait a year or more to change strings. If you want a duller sound and you don't mind your guitar going out of tune a lot then this is fine. For a crisp and clear tone, it is helpful to change your strings regularly. How long between changes depends on how much you are playing and the moisture in the air. Let your ears be your guide.
Picking
Just like the strings and wood, every step in the process of making the sound will shape the sound. Playing with your fingers vs. a pick is usually a stylistic choice more than a tone choice. A lot of music requires you to play with your thumb and fingers. You can use your finger tips, finger nails, or banjo style finger picks. Using your finger tips will have a soft and natural sound. Using a pick is where it can get tricky. The material will effect the sound. I think this is not often considered when choosing a pick. There is an obvious difference between metal and plastic, but even most plastic picks sound different from one another. The thickness and shape of the edge meeting the string can cause it to sound very different. Very thin picks will accentuate the pick attack. Thicker picks will add a warmer and thicker tone to your guitar.
Tuning
Many steel string players like to use many different tunings. Make sure to have the right gauge string for this or there will be problems. If you are only changing the tuning a little, then you will not have to worry about this. If you tune down too far, there will be a lot of problems that arise, but the tone will also change since the string has been made too slack. If you are tuning up to alternate tunings then using capos will come in very handy without effecting the sound too much. Baritone acoustics allow you to play at very low tunings. They are designed and constructed to meet the tonal and playing needs of low tuning.
Acoustic/Electric Guitars
Acoustic/electrics give you the option to plug in. There are amps made for this that will give you a more complimentary sound. Plugging in direct to a PA or for recording can work fine, but the sound will not be as natural as with a microphone. Try listening to both option back to back and compare them. The differences will be subtle, but obvious. There is nothing wrong with running direct, but most people are used to hearing an acoustic in it's natural setting and a mic will give that human feeling to your playing. It will also accentuate pick attack, strings noise, and even mistakes. If you're used to playing an acoustic unplugged, it will be good to work with a mic before you begin recording or playing a live show to see how it can change things.
It is very important to listen critically and educate your ear to the differences. This will allow you to make the choice that fits your preference. There are a lot of options and factors involved. Don't let it paralyze you. If you do a little research and experimenting here and there, it will add up. Over time you will get more comfortable with the tools you are working with.
About The Author:
Comments
Post a Comment
Thanks for your feedback